PHL may see more EVs — industry group

THE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said in a statement it is optimistic over the EV industry’s prospects in 2018, especially after the group hosted the ASEAN EV Summit on June 29-30, 2017.

Rommel T. Juan, EVAP president, said the summit “attracted various international players and organizations in the region,” as well as drew “mainstream car companies to showcase and promote their EVs and hybrids.”

This year Mr. Juan said the PUV Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation, which mandates that jeepneys must have either a Euro4-compliant diesel engine or an electric motor, and the exemption from new excise taxes of EVs — as well as the 50% reduction on duties for hybrid vehicles — will lead car makers to introduce their EV platforms in the Philippines.

“One such car maker is Mitsubishi Motors, with its i-MiEV and Outlander PHEV [models],” he said, adding that EVAP is also “looking forward” to a possible local introduction of the Nissan Leaf EV. Mr. Juan noted the new taxation scheme for vehicles “might be the needed push for Toyota to sell more Prius hybrids.”